Siskiyou County to test new emergency alert program

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Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA

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Posted Jul. 17, 2013 at 2:44 PM
Updated Jul 17, 2013 at 2:48 PM

Posted Jul. 17, 2013 at 2:44 PM
Updated Jul 17, 2013 at 2:48 PM

SISKIYOU COUNTY – Siskiyou County residents will receive a phone call this Friday, July 19, as the Office of Emergency Services utilizes its recently implemented CodeRED Emergency Notification and Alert System.

According to a press release issued by the Office of Emergency Services, the calls will begin in the afternoon and will continue until the entire database has been attempted. This call will give county personnel the chance to operate the system as if there were a community-wide disaster.

The message that will be delivered directs recipients to the county website to add additional contact numbers, and it also asks that recipients spread the word by mentioning the system to family, friends and neighbors.

Ron Quigley, deputy director of the Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services, suggests that “all individuals and businesses should take the time to visit the department’s website and add contact information to include cellular phone numbers and other non-traditional phone numbers as well as email and text addresses.”

He noted that those whose contact information is not in the database will not receive a call when an urgent message regarding disasters is sent.

In particular, businesses should register as well as individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number recently, and those who use a cellular phone exclusively or have VoIP phones (such as Vonage) as their primary numbers.

Quigley urges citizens to visit the Siskiyou County website at co.siskiyou.ca.us and click on the CodeRED link in the middle of the page. Those without Internet access may call 841-2155 Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Required information includes a street address (physical address, no post office boxes) for location purposes and a primary phone number. Additional phone numbers, email and text addresses may also be entered.

More information about the CodeRED system is on the website, and any questions should be directed to Quigley at 841-2155.

Emergency Communications Network

Siskiyou County recently implemented the CodeRED Emergency Notification and Alert System as its primary reverse 911/notification system for Siskiyou County and its residents.

CodeRED is a product of Emergency Communications Network Inc. (ECN), which provides high-speed notification solutions. ECN’s network supports a web-based product suite featuring CodeRED®, which enables local government officials to communicate time-sensitive, personalized messages via voice, email and text messaging; and CodeRED Weather Warning™ which provides automated alerts to citizens in the path of severe weather just moments after a warning has been issued by the National Weather Service.

For more information about Emergency Communications Network, visit emergencycommunications.net